Means for washing, drying, and polishing tumblers, cups, and like articles



Dec. 4, 1928. 1,693,780

- A. GRIFFITHS MEANS FOR "WASHING, DRYING, AND POLISHING TUMBLERS, CUPS, AND LIKE ARTICLES Filed Feb. 2, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 M N 2 1R t Ill t .z G m j n M f v fl m. s L. .m o g ,1 m r F m J mm J. Y. T w u T Q SA OU J m e 1 M n D O Q In k :1 mz 0 mm 0 m g 6G Am 2? m 0 s m IL? W 0 Dec. 4, 1928.

MEANS FOR TUMBLE explanatory drawingu with my invention.

Patented Dec. 4,1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT errrc ALFRED GRIFFITHS, or RocK FERRY, ENGLAND, AssIeNoR ToKLEENe As LIMITED,

' 0F LONDONLENGLAND, A BRITISH COMPANY.

MEANS FOR WASHING, DRYING, AND roLIsHING TUMBLERS, ours; AND LIKE ARTICLES.

Application filed February 2, 1928, Serial No.

This invention has for its object to provide improved means for washing, drying and polishing domestic utensils such as tumblers, cups, basins and like hollow ware.

The invention relates more particularly to machines of the type in which india-rubher pads or squeegees are fitted upon parts carried by a rotatable head, the pads being pressed into contact with the inside and outside of the utensil being washed, dried and polished, I V

The invention comprises the improved combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanyingsheet of Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, Figure 2 a plan view of Figure 1, Figure 3 an end view looking from right to left of Figure 1, and Figure 4 a sectional end elevation looking from left to right and substantially onthe line 4t4r of, Figure 1, but with a glass in position, showing a glass cleaning or polishing machine in accordance Figure 5 is a sectional elevation through a glass being cleaned in the machine.

Figure 6 is an end View looking from left to right of Figure 5 showing the cleaning Squeegees within the end of the glass.

Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 illustrate the squeegees in section and elevation Figure 11 is an elevation and Figure 12 a plan of the part to which an inner squeegee is secured.

Figure 13 is an elevation and Figure 1-4.; a plan view of a spring which acts on the squeegee plate shown in Figures 11 and 12.

Figure 15 shows a modified arrangement for cleaning the end of the interior of the glass.

The same reference letters in the different views indicate the same or similar parts.

Each pad or squeegee a comprises a rubber base reinforced with a metal plate Z) adapted to be secured upon the plate or the like 0 rotated by the machine as hereinafter described and a projecting strip (Z integral with but at an angle to the base. The operative edge of the strip (Z is at right angles or substantially at right angles to the direction of projection of the strip and is of substantial thickness with square edges. The

251,439, and in Great Britain October '19, 1927.. j

tumbler or vessel 6 is forced between the squeegees to the position shown in Figure 5 with the strip (Z facing in the direction in which the head carrying the squeegees is 1'0 fated, (the tumbler or vessel being held by the hand in a stationary position). T ie resistance of the vessel to the movement. of the squeegees causes each strip (Z to turn over upon itself as shown in Figure 4, and the square edge of the strip to grip the vessel surface, whereby a veryeiiicient and'rapid cleansing, drying and polishing can be effected.

The plates 0 carrying the squee 'eeswhi'ch operate on the inside of the vessel 6 aresecured to the central stem f by which they are rotated so that they can roll or adjust themselves to suit the surface with which they contact. In the illustrated form, each plate 0 has a lug like member 9 thereon which enters a slot in the central stem f, the lug being a good fit in the slot in the direition of rotation of the head but having rounded edges in the opposite direction (see Figures 1, 5 and 11) to permit of free rolling or turning movements of the plate; A screw it passing through a hole 2' in the lug permits free movements of the latter whilst moventing its detachment. Each plate 0 carrying an inner squeegee resiliently pressed away from the central stem by a plate or laminated spring j having hall like parts in at its ends which enter the slots m in the plate and having a ball a also at its centre which enters a hole in the stem and serve to locate he spring 7' during the rolling movements of the plate 0 and squeegee thereon as the latter adjusts itself to the shape of a vessel being operated upon. The use of blade springs as J ensures an even pressure upon the vessel surface during operation. The plates 0 carrying the squeegees may be made of such thinness that they can bend to suit special shapes of glasses, such as barrel glasses, if this be necessary. W

The squeegees for the outsides of the vessels are carried byplates fulcrumed upon arms 0 pivoted at p to brackets q, springs 1" tending to turnthe arms so as to press the said 'outer squeegees towards the inner ones,

The inner and outer squeegees and the parts by which they are carried are so arranged that centrifugal force due'to the rotation of he; device tends to force the Squeegees into firmer contact with the vessel surface.

: with the vessel during cleaning or the like.

For washing or cleaning a vessel, water mixed if desired with disinfectant is introduced through the apertures tin therotating stemwhich is tubular) into the Vessel, but for-drying and polishing, the same construction of head may be employed but no'liquid is intrqduced V g f r In use, a tumbler or glass to be cleaned is pressed betweenthe'inner and outer squeegees and held by "the hand Whilst the completeedevice upon-the base a isrotated. Liquid from the apertures t facilitates the cleansing1ope1ation, After a short period, thetumbler'or glass may be Withdrawn and b'eliolished by a similar device running dry. hatI claim is h r In, a device of the kind described, the combinationof, a rotating head, and squeegeesupon said head, each squeegee consisting ofa rubber; base with a progecting strip,

the strip projecting in the direction in which the head is rotating, as set forth.

, 2. In a device of the kind described, the combination of-, a rotating head and squee gees upon said head, each squeegee consisting of a rubber base with a projecting strip, the edge of the strip being at right angles to the directionof projection of the strip which is in the direction in :which the head rotates. y

3. In a devicefof theliinddescribed, the combination of a rotating head and squee-' gees uporr saidv head, each s queegeenconsisb ing of rubber base with metal reinforcement thereon, stripupon and at an angle s b e. t t r teieet e 1in.. h ,rection in which the head rotates, the operative end of the strip having a square edge, and being substantially at ,rightangles to the direction in which the strip projects. 1 4. Means forwashingdrying and polishing tumblers, cups and like articles comprising, in combination a hollow perforated stem, two plates'secured to said stenrat opposite sides, means allowing the plates to have a rolling m o\ "erne.nt about. their securing n1eans, a squcegeesecured to each plate and two pivotally mounted squeegee carrying.

plates opposed to the squeegees before referred to, as set forth. I

5. In a device of the kinddescribed,the combination of, a rotatablebaseflpiece, a centralhollow stem uponsaid base piece, two squeegee carrying plates having lugs thereon extending. into slots in andfrombpposite sides of said stem, plate springsim terposed between said stem andsaid plates,

with meansfor locatingthe springs. upon. sald stein, securing means for the plates passing throughiholes inthe plate lugs andfastened in the stem, levers pivoted upon the base a at opposite sides, squeegee carrying plates on said levers, the four Squeegees coming togetherin two pairs so thatithe article to be cleaned can be held onits inside and outside by said Squeegees, and resilient means acting upon theflevers to force the outer Squeegees towards the inners.

lnrtestimony whereof I have signed'my name to this specification. W

ALFRED GRIFFITHS. 

